Daily Readings - Thu Jan 16 2020
1 Samuel
1And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.2The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.3When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.6Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,7the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"10So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.11The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Mark
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and our response to God's presence in our lives. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the Israelites' defeat by the Philistines, despite bringing the Ark of the Covenant into their camp. This sacred symbol, meant to embody God's presence, could not alter their fate, highlighting that mere symbols of faith, without genuine trust and devotion, are insufficient. The second reading from Mark presents a leper who, with humble faith, asks Jesus for healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to remain silent. Yet, the leper, overwhelmed with gratitude, spreads the news widely, illustrating the transformative power of faith and the natural impulse to share God's grace.
These readings interconnect by contrasting outward symbols with inward faith. The Israelites relied on the Ark, a physical representation of God's presence, yet lacked the deeper trust needed for true victory. Conversely, the leper's faith was not in a symbol but in Jesus' power, leading to his healing and enthusiastic witness. This teaches us that faith is not merely about rituals or objects but about a genuine relationship with God, prompting us to act and share His love.
In our daily lives, this means that while traditions and symbols can enrich our faith, they must be accompanied by heartfelt trust and obedience. When we experience God's grace, like the leper, we are compelled to share it, even when it challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. The moral lesson here is that true faith transcends symbols, requiring us to trust God and live out our faith actively, sharing His love with others as a testament to His transformative power.